As the co-owner of Superette, one of New Zealand’s foremost destinations in retail, Rickie Dee has a particular eye for the latest in design and fashion. Regularly visiting Wellington to check on Superette’s inner city store, she has whittled her trips to the Capital down to a fine art, a stay at the Hilton, a drop-in on her favourite bars and restaurants and a touch of pampering. Here Rickie Dee shares her tips for getting the most out of a quick trip to Wellington.

Stay
When I am in Wellington, I am generally on a pretty tight schedule so I like to stay in walking distance of the Superette store. The DoubleTree by Hilton is in the perfect location for me, plus it’s one of the newest hotels in the Capital. The interior is super bright with luxe gold accents — and the beds are extremely comfortable — I always have a great night’s sleep when I stay here.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

Eat
If you are going to go to one place for your morning coffee it has to be Lamason Brew Bar. Dedicated to all things coffee, they also serve the best cheese scones you will ever eat.

LAMASON BREW BAR

It’s no surprise that my two favourite restaurants in Wellington are both Italian — as it’s one of my favourite cuisines. The first, Ombra, is an intimate, tapas style eatery situated on Cuba Street. The service is always on point and the atmosphere is great. My pick off the menu? The Panzanella salad. 1154 is another hot spot that opened just last year. It’s casual Italian dining at its finest and the menu is filled with fresh, made-in-house pasta dishes. And when I say hot spot, I mean it. There’s often a long waitlist as it’s very popular and they don’t take bookings. Once you do finally take a seat — make sure you save room for dessert, the Panna Cotta is next level.

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OMBRA

Drink
After a busy day in store, it’s nice to unwind with a great glass of wine, so I usually pop into Noble Rot Wine Bar. They have such an extensive wine list, and I always make sure to try something new each time I visit. And if you’re hungry — their food menu is also pretty delicious.

Spa
If I am allowed the time, Spring Spa Wellington is my go-to, it feels familiar and I can get everything I need done in the one place. The Codage Instant Facial is the best, and I can’t go past a manicure and pedicure.